On August 31st, Manhattan’s District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr., announced that charges were being filed against fifteen individuals who were allegedly a part of a fake COVID-19 vaccination scheme. Jasmine Clifford, the 31-year-old woman who orchestrated the scheme, charged $200 or more per card depending on whether the buyers wanted her co-conspirator, Nadayza Barkley, to enter the fraudulent information into the states immunization database. The scheme was uncovered when a police investigator became aware of it and proceeded to order a fake COVID-19 vaccination card from Clifford. Clifford and her co-conspirator are facing multiple charges, while most of the remaining individuals are facing charges related to the purchase of the fake COVID-19 cards.
According to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the federal government should implement an education campaign to make the American people aware of the consequences of buying a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. Do you believe that an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards?
Sources:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paigeskinner/antivaxmomma-fake-covid-vaccine-cards
https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-c14ce28edda2593b0b3819acec97089e
Please leave at least three comments. One is your original contribution. And two comments are you replies to your classmates. Deadline: 10/03/21, 11:59 pm.
45 thoughts on “Discussion Forum 5: How to Prevent Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Card Schemes”
I don’t believe that an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. I think that some people who are anti-vaccine would like to protect their opinion/health would purchase the fake vaccination cards regardless of the education facts. They’re argument might be that we don’t know the long term effects of the COVID vaccines yet, which is a good point. Some people who are anti-vaccine might purchase the counterfeit vaccination cards just because many places are requiring it in order to enter. Most of the time, the person who is asking for proof of the vaccine card, won’t inspect it clearly to know whether it’s fake or not. I know this because some people are getting by with just showing a picture of their vaccination cards and ID. I feel like there should be a different and more efficient way for proof of vaccination. The vaccine cards are being easily faked. This is not safe.
Hi Amy, I agree on your point about anti-vaccine people, I have heard so many times their argument about not having enough data to know what the side effects are going to be in the long term, and yes I agree with that as you said. Also, about checking proof of vaccine cards it is so true how people don’t inspect it properly.
Hi Amy, yes many people are opting for the false vaccination card to be able to continue their normal lives such as being able to continue attending a gym or to visit a restaurant since without proof of vaccination you cannot enter. I feel that this issue is very delicate since many people have their own reasons for not getting vaccinated and the government keeps forcing people to get vaccinated every day.
I agree with you Amy, that some people are buying those fake vaccine cards just to into places where people that aren’t vaccinated can’t get in.
Hey Amy, I completely agree with every point you made. It would be a waste of time to do an educational campaign regarding the vaccine when its people who are Anti- vaccine have already made up their mind. I do still feel like the education being released at least gives people a chance to know what their putting in their bodies, and at the end of the day people people aren’t entitled to keep the same opinion forever.
I agree Abeer maybe if that made the vaccine card less accessible, there would be less cases of counterfeit vaccination cards. Because it wouldn’t be as easy for distributors to get their hands on these cards. That’s actually an idea, skip the educational process and make life harder
I think if they make it harder as in maybe have an app or site that you get a code whenever you are vaccinated rather than it be in a paper which is easily made as stated people are using them to go places and it is needed so maybe the campaign can have a different way to show proof of if vaccinated other than being in a photo or a piece of card. This will mostly prevent fraud of vaccine cards.
Hi Abeer, I agree that there should be an app or site where it would show your vaccination status and picture for each vaccinated individual, that would make it harder for someone to fake it.
Hi Abeer. I think that making an app as a form of verification of being vaccinated is a good idea. I don’t think that the vaccination cards which are like a piece of paper is the smartest idea. They need to come up with a better solution that will hopefully prevent fraud.
Hi Abeer, I don’t know if you know but there is already an application where you must put your information and verify the data to prevent falsification.
Hello,
Apps and vaccine passports do exist, but not federally (the Biden admin. has not forced anyone to get a vaccine, just encouraged it–Biden’s “mandate” allows people to not get vaccinated for health and religious beliefs, but they have to submit to often co-vid tests). Also a lot of red states have even banned the use of vaccine passports and apps like it. I do agree that we need a better way to verify besides paper cards.
I agree that there would be another way to prove that somebody is vaccinated and not only a piece of paper. We are in a modern age where the government can create a unique code for every vaccinated people.
I agree Abeer maybe if that made the vaccine card less accessible, there would be less cases of counterfeit vaccination cards. Because it wouldn’t be as easy for distributors to get their hands on these cards. That’s actually an idea, skip the educational process and make life harder.
I don’t think an education campaign is going to solve the use of fake vaccination cards, people that don’t believe in vaccines won’t change their mind just because a campaign, in order to change the way you believe in things people have to have the will to do it, otherwise its going to be a waste of resources and time. The government should focus more in ways to check vaccination status and not just letting businesses do that, business shouldn’t be the ones enforcing vaccination compliance, showing a picture or your paper vaccination card is the easiest way to fake it. Also, there should be fines for whoever fakes a vaccination card, jail shouldn’t be the answer for faking or not complying with a vaccines.
Hi Julio. I agree with your response. It will most likely be a waste of time because some people already made their decision that they don’t want to get the vaccine and they will stick with it no matter what educational facts they provide. Especially since it involves their own body and health, anyone will do anything to protect their health and opinion.
Hi Julio. I agree with you that the government has to focus in more ways to check vaccination statuses and not let businesses falsify vaccination records. The government should have created a system where businesses have certain limitations.
Hi Julio, I do agree that the campaign won’t stop anything as people are still scared today to get vaccinated.
I don’t believe that any education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. Many people today are terrified of the fact that the government is forcing society to get vaccinated, this has led people to seek other solutions such as falsifying the card to be able to enter public places such as restaurants since they require the vaccination card to be able to sit inside. In my opinion, this whole situation has gotten out of control, none of this should be happening, no one should be obliged to do anything since we all have the right to choose what is best for our health or not.
Hi Endrika, I agree with you that since the government is enforcing people to get vaccinated and society looks for other ways to find a solution and an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. People should get a choice whether to get vaccinate or not but having the government enforce the vaccination is outrageous.
The government enforces mandatory vaccinations for all children in the US to go to school, so it’s not outrageous, it has historical precedent and acceptance. And we as a society accepted this because it was an issue of public health, not of freedom. You (general you) not getting the vaccine or not wearing a mask doesn’t just hurt you, it can sicken and kill others. If we as a globe do not reach herd immunity then co-vid is here to stay and is free to replicate and mutate to a place where the current vaccines we have are no longer effective and the waves of death start again. It’s no longer freedom when it infringes on others right to life and their health. That’s why you can’t yell fire in a movie theater–because people might get trampled and die. You can’t go outside naked, you can’t kill people, you can’t light someone’s house on fire and you MUST get vaccinated as a child for Chickenpox, hep B, Measles, Polio, etc in order to go to school.
Moraima, vaccination is a public health issue. We need people to vaccinate to protect others, who cant. Children younger than 12, for example. Also, please comment on the question I posed in the assignment.
Hi Endrika, I agree with you. It does seem like the government is forcing people to get vaccinated.
I do not believe an education campaign would be an efficient way of cracking down on counterfeit vaccination cards. Those who are anti-vax would rather get the card to enter simple places such as restaurants and be able to participate in indoor activities. I do not want to get vaccinated until I have to such as a required class only being offered on campus rather than online. Like me, others would consider purchasing one for unofficial reasons like enjoying simple luxuries like movie theaters and indoor trampoline parks. Does this make this right? No, not in my eyes at least because it’s lying about being vaccinated which I feel is being inconsiderate of other’s health, but is it fair that we’re forcing others to comply with health standards that they’re just not comfortable with yet just so they can enjoy their lives? No. With this being the case, education campaigns are unlikely to deter conterfeit vaccination cards.
Hi Cananya, I agree, people should not be forced to get the vaccine and if they do not get the vaccine they are not allowed to do anything and by the government just asking the business to ask for proof of vaccination is just a way of the government enforcing the vaccination.
I agree that there would be an education campaign to reduce the use of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. I know that many or most of those people that are using fake vaccination cards are against the vaccine and a lot of places are requiring those cards to allow people to get in. An education campaign can help to tell and teach those people against the vaccine that they should not be faking something such important as this card.
I believe that an education campaign would not be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards because even though people are being informed about the consequences it does not mean it will prevent them from doing it. It is important to do an education campaign if those are not aware that there are real consequences to their actions but it would not be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. People are buying counterfeit vaccination cards because everywhere you go they will ask you for it and instead of putting on the vaccine, they think it is easier to just use a fake vaccination card, which is totally illegal. There should be other ways to prevent the use of counterfeit vaccination cards.
Hi Moraima. I agree with you because no matter if there’s an educational campaign on reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards and being informed of the consequences people are still to purchase these types of cards and use them to get into any establishment.
I don’t believe an education campaign will reduce the use of counterfeit vaccine cards. The Reason why is because there are people who simply don’t want to take the vaccine but sense they have jobs or they’re someone who’s social they’re being subjected to the vaccine. I do think the knowledge would persuade people who are maybe on the edge, enough information to make a decision. I personally would like to know more about the vaccine before taking it. I feel like information is imperative when it comes to someone putting an injection in their body. Especially with all the controversy in the beginning of the vaccination being released. Although I don’t think it will make a difference with people who are Anti-vaccine. I do think it will help enforce the mandate due to the fact that the proper information is in the public.
Do you agree with jobs choosing to punish people for defending their rights?
In my opinion, I don’t think an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. At the end of the day people know the outcome of falsifying a vaccination card. People buy them because it’s now mandatory to show proof of vaccination inorder to go to concerts, dine in at restaurants, and other gatherings. I know we all want to go back to normal but falsifying a vaccination that can help reduce the symptoms of COVID is not the solution.
how do you think they can go about dealing with people who don’t want to get vaccinated but feel as though they have no other choice ?
They can stay like that ‘not vaccinated’ but they can not get in contact with people who are and are trying to protect their health because is not fair.
I do not believe that an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. For starters there are so many people against vaccination and will continue to protect the identity of individuals selling the fake cards. Also, the people who do not want to support the campaign will not and I don’t believe much will change that. If anything a campaign would drive this more underground even increasing the momentum. A system in place to cross reference vaccine IDs for establishments where vaccination is required may be a more reliable way at reducing the use of these cards.
I understand your points and I agree with them but trying to educate them that this doesn’t help anyone wouldn’t hurt to try.
Hello,
An education campaign might not do very much in crime reduction, however, I might be underestimating how many people are not aware that it is a serious crime to sell real or fake vaccination cards. That being said, it should at the very least be tried. This will not just act as a reminder or education of the legal consequences but also as a way to remove excuses for potential offenders. Then again what is the enforcement system–how do you catch people with these fake cards? Here in New York you have to show a card or photo of your card alongside your ID. If you have a fake card in that situation there is no way for the restaurant staff checking your card to know it’s fake unless the names do not match or the handwriting is not the same throughout or the dates are obviously wrong. There is no system to check it against or methods of telling if the card was actually issued by a doctor or not. I think an education campaign should be launched in addition to a strong move to increase the effort in getting one’s hands on a vaccination card if you did not get a co-vid vaccination, would be a good project to start up alongside with an education campaign. This anti-vaccination mentality has become a part of the Republican identity. An example would be expanding the digital vaccine verification portal idea to which states we can and making an effort to try to get a federal program passed–which is very difficult to do with a conservative supreme court and with a lot of red states having passed laws outlawing vaccine passports citing “freedom”. This is a matter of public health and protecting others freedom not to die or get sick.
Sincerely,
Cuffia
Many people in this world don’t wanna take the vaccination, so they go online or know people that sell fake vaccination cards. Nowadays, anywhere you go out to a club, restaurant, school etc some places wanna see the vaccination cards. It’s hard to see which cards are real or fake. People just wanna go back to the normal life without wearing a mask or get a shot. We can’t because people don’t wanna follow the rules.
True they do want to go back to how it was who doesn’t but it’s a matter of showing respect of those who wish to be extra protected.
I feel as though neither education or continuing the effort to mandate the vaccine makes sense. Yes i understand everyones side about it but i don’t feel as though our rights are being honored. I find that it creates unnecessary division amongst us . In my opinion the narrative around the vaccince creates a false sense of hope. The government in certain places creating incentives for those who take it while shunning others also further causing issue with people who are honoring their choice to protect their rights.
yes I agree it just make more drama for those against it because it a content battle with each for their beliefs
Mika, please make sure to answer the question, narrowly.
An education campaign would be effective at reading the use of the counterfeit vaccination case because it would be the first step in sending awareness and is a powerful agent of change and improves health, livelihood and drives long-term economic growth. But also it would be a challenge to reduce the number of those who oppose the vaccine because many have different beliefs about why they don’t want it and many people would take advantage of having an opportunity where you can deny something that you’re against. Not to mention those who are making the fake care they want to use for privileges to make benefits but in the end, you can’t stop them from getting it from someone who knows someone and it keeps going.
I think that an education campaign would help reduce counterfeit vaccination cards use . But I feel like we’ve come to a point where people have seen how many people died from Covid-19 and how many got infected so it dose not make sense to risk your own life and other people’s lives ordering online a fake vaccination card. I do understand and respect everyone’s opinion regarding vaccination options but not being vaccinated and saying you are is a whole different story. I think the charges should be very strict for these situations. And people should get educated on the effect these actions have on society.
They can stay like that ‘not vaccinated’ but they can not get in contact with people who are and are trying to protect their health because is not fair.
I don’t think an education campaign would be effective at reducing the use of counterfeit vaccination cards. A lot of people don’t want to take the vaccine which is their choice. Also, because it seems like the government is forcing it and bribing people to take it which is why many people bought the fake vaccine card. I say my choice my body, I don’t think vaccinations should be forced on people. It is also wrong that you must be vaccinated to enter a lot of places including schools.